Surprised not to have seen this here already. Discuss.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/bobby-costello-out-as-u-s-eventing-chef-dequipe/
I heard some skuttlebutt this may be happening. Wonder who will be filling his shoes? Maybe Leslie Law? He’s worked with riders going across the pond?
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Who would want to fill his shoes, even? Tough job.
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Wonder if it had anything to do with Andrew McConnon.
Bobby must have given a recommendation for the big grant to go overseas.
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That was my first thought. Of course because they haven’t made a statement we are just left to speculate on that.
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It’s posted in the Andrew McCarron thread. Interesting coincidence
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There is a comment on USA Eventing’s FB that it was not his choice to leave.
I can’t imagine filling this role after the last 2 have been uprooted seemingly so sudden.
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Which facebook account shows that comment?
I do not see it on the USEA facebook account.
Thank you
I’m pretty sure there is a connection. So many people in the area have said that Bobby has been aware of the abuse and covered for him multiple times. Those Southern Pines “professionals” are thick as thieves.
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It’s the only thing that makes sense, and we are close to the new year when the rules come in. I suspect a suspension is coming from FEI and that Bobby may have been thrown to the wolves if he didn’t resign.
IF he did know and didn’t report it, then good riddance.
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Did Costello go to Burghley? Was he a witness to the McConnon abuse? I don’t think he was on the grant panel that awarded him so not sure how that comes into play. IME when one gets the boot it’s usually due to a variety of things so would hard to speculate or pinpoint. I would say the team performance at the Olympics may have been a catalyst.
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Andrew McConnnon aside, the Olympics did not go well with the whole swapping of horses for Will, Liz ending up with the spot and no one having a good showing.
Has anyone on the team taken to working with Bobby in the way the riders did previously with Erik Duvander (minus the O’Connor folks of course)?
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Yeah, Andrew used to ride out of Bobby Costello’s farm and considered him to be a mentor. Bobby Costello has been doing the Futures Challenge. Was he in that position in 2020 when Andrew was selected to participate and when he was selected for Development?
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Prior to being Chef, Costello was head of the selectors for the high performance lists for several years and prior to that was one of the selectors for the high performance lists
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Everyone is throwing Carl Hester to the wolves too right?
I’ve explained before to others where Bobby’s farm and ring are, in comparison to where Andrew has worked and riden most recently (since he came back from WFP), and on that, WFP’s got to be assumed here too right?
Did you ever think that it’s the opposite? That the truth came out, and maybe Bobby resigned because he didn’t know, or didn’t know enough to say something? That he heard the rumors like all the rest of us, and didn’t actually see that shit with his own two eyes?
I cannot tell you the number of times I have ridden by Bobby giving lessons, watched Bobby giving lessons, seen him volunteering at the LOWEST level of the sport during his few free periods, mentoring and coaching any rider who asked for the help. Never once did I see him condone abusive behavior, in fact, I have sat and heard him do the exact opposite.
I flipping hate all the vulturistic behavior. If I am wrong I am wrong, but Bobby has done so much for the sport of eventing, and people only see a small fraction of it. I’m absolutely not willing to throw him out because ONE of his students got caught with shitty behavior.
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is there any chance of getting Erik Duvander back? Why did he leave anyway?
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About zero percent chance I’d guess. He was forced out by USEF, the reasons remained unclear but the guess was that the O’Connor/Mars crew did not feel like he was paying enough attention to them/selecting them for teams in the manner they felt they deserved.
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Bobby is a great guy. I’ve had limited experience with him, but he was always kind and pleasant. My old trainer worked with him for years and I worked in my old trainers barn. I knew what went on there and it was nothing that could be considered absue. It was excellent horsemanship in fact. I leaned a lot.
I’ve watched him teach. I’ve seen him working with students. He is insightful and he is fair to the riders and horses. I’ve never seen bad behaviour from him during lessons with my old trainer.
He has one bad student, but he has many great students. I don’t think one bad student should cause him to be under such scrutiny.
I’m more upset that Erik’s contract wasn’t renewed. He really helped to shape the team and worked with the riders to improve their program. I don’t think Bobby got enough time to show what he could do, but the best thing he did was allow riders to keep their programs that worked. I think he did inherit a lot of good work that Erik did. I think that ship has sailed though unfortunately.
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